From: Piedmont, Italy
Blend: Chardonnay (60%) and Pinot Noir (40%)
Taste: Taking a sip of the Ercole Pét-Nat Rosato is akin to biting into a succulent, sun-ripened berry. It bursts forth with notes of electric strawberry and juicy red raspberry, complemented by a subtle hint of fresh clove. It is dry, bright, and juicy on the palate with an alcohol content of 12.5%—the perfect refreshing sip on a warm day.
Pairing: Pairing the Ercole Pét-Nat Rosato is a delightful culinary adventure. It's akin to an enthusiastic guest that livens up any meal. It finds harmony with a summer salad, a light grazing board of cheese and cured meats, or a seafood platter. It is a companion to sushi, a friend to salmon (check out the recipe below), and an ardent admirer of salmon sushi. Its sparkling freshness resonates with anything you'd typically pair with Champagne, rosé, or dry white wine. When pairing pét nats, the possibilities are as boundless as your imagination.
Swiss Rosti With Smoked Salmon and Poached Egg
By David Tanis
About. In the heart of Piedmont, Italy, lies an intricate tapestry of vineyards in the shadows of the Alps. From here emanates the irresistible charm of the Ercole Pét-Nat Rosato, a wine produced by the cooperative efforts of passionate grape growers and championed by The Piedmont Guy. The moniker "Ercole" (pronounced "air-co-ay") translates to "Hercules" in English—a fitting name that celebrates the Herculean endeavor of crafting a wine that speaks eloquently of its origin.
The Piedmont region is renowned for its winemaking history and breathtaking landscapes, a place where generations-old cooperatives like the one behind Ercole thrive. The cooperative, a small yet powerful group of committed growers from the Monferrato area, offers more than sustainably farmed, pristine grapes. These men and women also serve as custodians of native grape varieties and winemaking traditions, keeping the region's cultural heritage alive.
The collective efforts of these growers not only abide by the European Union rule for sustainable farming known as "lotta integrata" or "lutte raisonnée," but they also reject the use of systemic treatments or chemicals, employing minimal copper and sulfur instead. The result is a wine that is as close to the vine as it can get—authentic, organic, and vegan.
Piedmont is the stomping ground for a host of grape varieties; among them, the cooperative uses the classic sparkling wine grapes Chardonnay (60%) and Pinot Noir (40%). Grown in limestone-marl soils, these grapes form the foundation of the Ercole Pét-Nat Rosato, a wine made through the ancestral or "metodo ancestrale" process. This age-old method of bottling the wine before the conclusion of primary fermentation allows the yeast to naturally produce the effervescence, resulting in a raw, unfiltered wine that is excitingly vibrant and pleasingly approachable.
